Raymond Roman's Visual Bloghttps://raymondroman.wordpress.com
Fri, 27 Feb 2015 15:35:54 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/bf255c233cc86c9a0e30a92534567575?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.pngRaymond Roman's Visual Bloghttps://raymondroman.wordpress.com
Happy 18th Birthday to My Brother Eric!https://raymondroman.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/happy-18th-birthday-to-my-brother-eric/
https://raymondroman.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/happy-18th-birthday-to-my-brother-eric/#commentsFri, 27 Feb 2015 15:35:49 +0000http://raymondroman.wordpress.com/?p=4805]]>]]>https://raymondroman.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/happy-18th-birthday-to-my-brother-eric/feed/0RaymondRomanUsing Snapchat to Create Short Filmshttps://raymondroman.wordpress.com/2015/02/25/using-snapchat-to-create-short-films/
https://raymondroman.wordpress.com/2015/02/25/using-snapchat-to-create-short-films/#commentsWed, 25 Feb 2015 21:50:30 +0000http://raymondroman.wordpress.com/?p=4791]]>Ever since Snapchat created the ‘My Story’ feature I have used the mobile app to create on the fly made up short stories, as well as what most people use the app for which is capturing what they’re doing at that moment in their lives. Recently the app allows you to download your story, instead of these great moments disappearing into thin air – which we know isn’t entirely true since essentially what gets posted to the internet stays on the internet or in some database somewhere. Just last week Snapchat now allows you to record your videos while the music on your phone continues to play, whereas before if you were listening to music it would stop the music while you hold down the record button. I’ve wanted this feature for so long and glad it’s finally possible to incorporate audio playing from your phone in your Snapchat videos. I took the short film idea a step further when this was made possible and made a little short film titled ‘The Unknown’ being that I had no idea what kind of story I was going to create, again I was just creating on the fly.

Below is a trailer I made of my Snapchat story I downloaded, and posted it to Instagram to lead more friends to follow me on Snapchat as well.

I’ve previously wrote about using the in-camera editing technique with 8mm film, Vine, and now the same thing is possible with Snapchat, minus the time limitations that Vine gives you. I think with the capabilities these apps provide, it could help beginning filmmakers learn the basics of filmmaking, or even turn someone onto becoming a filmmaker if they learn to love creating stories to tell their friends in a creative way. However, I know most people aren’t using Snapchat “creatively”, but for those who are it’s interesting to see what the possibilities are for the future of filmmaking. Personally, I’ve been using these apps to tell short stories, create highlight videos, or as a trailer to lead people onto seeing the full video (as seen above). For the most part I’ve been using Instagram to create highlight videos also known as “montage sequences” of family events. Anybody can create a montage these days, especially with apps such as Flipagram, or FlipClip but I believe there’s an art to it that most people don’t realize. Sure you can upload your photos into these apps, add some music and your on your way to posting your own montage, but to personally create your own montage there’s a lot more that goes into to really create a feeling that gets across to the viewer. As an editor I try to lead the eye of the viewer through the choices I make of what clips should go together, where to make the cuts, what transition to create, and most importantly what music to use to drive the montage. For me it’s a great exercise to create these short 15 second montage sequences for Instagram, and it’s also nice to have these mini-highlight reels of a family event to look back on later on in life. I know a lot of people have old home movies that they never go back and watch, who really has the time? But when you have the capabilites that technology offers you today, and the apps to help showcase these moments, why not take advantage and create these short videos in the most entertaining way possible?

Below is one of my recent highlight videos, if you’d like to watch more follow me on Instagram/Snapchat @RaymondRoman and search under the hashtag #RayRomanVideo for more edited videos.

]]>https://raymondroman.wordpress.com/2015/01/25/spike-jonze/feed/0RaymondRomanTV World: Celebration Trips (2014)https://raymondroman.wordpress.com/2015/01/25/tv-world-celebration-trips-2014/
https://raymondroman.wordpress.com/2015/01/25/tv-world-celebration-trips-2014/#commentsSun, 25 Jan 2015 13:25:16 +0000http://raymondroman.wordpress.com/?p=4778]]>This is a highlight video of trips my friends and I took from San Francisco to South Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, back to San Diego, and lastly down to Ensenada.

Checkout the highlight videos from each trip by clicking on the links below.

On December 4th, Brandon suffered a major stroke. He is only 29 years old. The effects of the stroke have caused his cognitive and motor skills to be greatly impaired. Brandon returned home to San Diego after three long weeks at UCLA Medical, and soon after, began the process of long-term rehabilitation. Given his unfortunate, and very unexpected situation, Brandon’s family have had to adjust their lives tremendously, resulting in financial burdens that have started to weigh heavily on them. Continued therapy, inclusive of all associated medical costs and pending hospital bills, have only further intensified this uphill battle. Brandon’s road to recovery will not be easy, but he has already shown signs of very positive improvement. With your love and support, Brandon and his family will be able to get through this difficult time. Brandon will return to Los Angeles to pickup where he left off – stronger and more motivated than ever. Any contribution will help. We thank you so very much for all your support. -Brandon’s Recovery Fund

]]>https://raymondroman.wordpress.com/2015/01/07/please-visit-brandons-recovery-fund/feed/0RaymondRomanEvery film I’ve watched in 2014https://raymondroman.wordpress.com/2015/01/06/every-film-ive-watched-in-2014/
https://raymondroman.wordpress.com/2015/01/06/every-film-ive-watched-in-2014/#commentsWed, 07 Jan 2015 05:22:28 +0000http://raymondroman.wordpress.com/?p=4767]]>A couple years back I started keeping track of the films I’ve watched each year. It seems at the time I started keeping count I wasn’t doing as much creating as I am these days, since the number of films I’ve watched these past couple years has decreased. Here’s a list of the films watched in recent years — 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010. Including this years list below, and the previous 4 years of watching films I have watched a total of 698 films in the past 5 years! Checkout this years list below.

Every film I’ve watched in 2011 Seduced and Abandoned, What Maisie Knew, Spring Breakers, Lone Survivor, Sunset Strip, Of Two Minds, The Giant Mechanical Man, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Safe Haven, Blue Jasmine, Mitt, For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism, Frances Ha, Greenberg, The Dish & the Spoon, Drinking Buddies, A NY Thing, Margaret, You Won’t Miss Me, Nobody Walks, Charlie Countryman, Cool Hand Luke, Dirty, Generation Iron, Identity Thief, Trance, White Reindeer, The Heat, Ride Along, Billy Madison, Mrs. Doubtfire, Mr. 3000, The Truman Show, Short Term 12, Stories We Tell, One Hour Photo, You’re Next, Blue Ruin, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, For No Good Reason, Palo Alto, The Game Plan, Big Daddy, Bad Grandpa, First Christmases, 50 First Dates, Back in the Day, Red Eye, Full Metal Jacket, The One I Love, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Felon, Big Love, Spun, “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”, In A World, Scoop, Listen Up Philip, Insomnia, 187, The Heist (2001), Family Stone, Kindergarten Cop, The Place Beyond The Pines, Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon, The Deal, First Time Felon, I Know That Voice, The Interview. (Count 70)

I’m pretty sure there’s a handful of films I didn’t add to this years list. I’ve been so busy this year; I definitely forgot to log a few films down to my list while dealing with a crashed computer earlier this year. I hope to watch more movies in 2015!